# std::unique_ptr<T,Deleter>::operator=

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< cpp‎ | memory‎ | unique ptr

unique_ptr& operator=( unique_ptr&& r ) noexcept; | (1) | (constexpr since C++23)
template< class U, class E > unique_ptr& operator=( unique_ptr<U, E>&& r ) noexcept; | (2) | (constexpr since C++23)
unique_ptr& operator=( std::nullptr_t ) noexcept; | (3) | (constexpr since C++23)
unique_ptr& operator=( const unique_ptr& ) = delete; | (4) |

1) Move assignment operator. Transfers ownership from r to *this as if by calling reset(r.release()) followed by assigning get_deleter() from std::forward<Deleter>(r.get_deleter()).
This overload participates in overload resolution only if std::is_move_assignable<Deleter>::value is true.
If `Deleter` is not a reference type, the behavior is undefined if

- `Deleter` is not MoveAssignable, or
- assigning get_deleter() from an rvalue of type `Deleter` would throw an exception.

Otherwise (`Deleter` is a reference type), the behavior is undefined if

- `std::remove_reference<Deleter>::type` is not CopyAssignable, or
- assigning get_deleter() from an lvalue of type `Deleter` would throw an exception.

2) Converting assignment operator. Transfers ownership from r to *this as if by calling reset(r.release()) followed by assigning get_deleter() from std::forward<E>(r.get_deleter()).
This overload participates in overload resolution only if all following conditions are satisfied:

- std::is_assignable<Deleter&, E&&>::value is true.
- For the primary template, all following conditions are satisfied:
  - `U` is not an array type.
  - `unique_ptr<U, E>::pointer` is implicitly convertible to `pointer`, and.
- For the array specialization (`unique_ptr<T[]>`), all following conditions are satisfied:
  - `U` is an array type.
  - `pointer` is the same type as `element_type*`.
  - `unique_ptr<U, E>::pointer` is the same type as `unique_ptr<U, E>::element_type*`.
  - `unique_ptr<U, E>::element_type(*)[]` is convertible to `element_type(*)[]`.

If `E` is not a reference type, the behavior is undefined if assigning get_deleter() from an rvalue of type `E` is ill-formed or would throw an exception.
Otherwise (`E` is a reference type), the behavior is undefined if assigning get_deleter() from an lvalue of type `E` is ill-formed or would throw an exception.
3) Effectively the same as calling reset().
4) Copy assignment operator is explicitly deleted.

### Parameters

r | - | smart pointer from which ownership will be transferred

### Return value

*this

### Notes

As a move-only type, `unique_ptr`'s assignment operator only accepts rvalues arguments (e.g. the result of std::make_unique or a std::move'd `unique_ptr` variable).

### Example

Run this code

    #include <iostream>
    #include <memory>

    struct Foo
    {
        int id;
        Foo(int id) : id(id) { std::cout << "Foo " << id << '\n'; }
        ~Foo() { std::cout << "~Foo " << id << '\n'; }
    };

    int main()
    {
        std::unique_ptr<Foo> p1(std::make_unique<Foo>(1));

        {
            std::cout << "Creating new Foo...\n";
            std::unique_ptr<Foo> p2(std::make_unique<Foo>(2));
            // p1 = p2; // Error ! can't copy unique_ptr
            p1 = std::move(p2);
            std::cout << "About to leave inner block...\n";

            // Foo instance will continue to live,
            // despite p2 going out of scope
        }

        std::cout << "About to leave program...\n";
    }

Output:

    Foo 1
    Creating new Foo...
    Foo 2
    ~Foo 1
    About to leave inner block...
    About to leave program...
    ~Foo 2

### Defect reports

The following behavior-changing defect reports were applied retroactively to previously published C++ standards.

DR | Applied to | Behavior as published | Correct behavior
--- | --- | --- | ---
LWG 2047 | C++11 | for overload (2), get_deleter() was assigned from std::forward<Deleter>(r.get_deleter()) | corrected to std::forward<E>(r.get_deleter())
LWG 2118 | C++11 | `unique_ptr<T[]>::operator=` rejected qualification conversions | accepts
LWG 2228 (N4366) | C++11 | the converting assignment operator was missing the assignability constraint | added the constraint
LWG 2246 | C++11 | the assignment target of the converted deleter of r was not specified | specified as get_deleter()
LWG 2899 | C++11 | the move assignment operator was not constrained | constrained

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